Antigonish Community Transit Society continues to thrive
By Corey LeBlanc
ANTIGONISH: For more than a decade, the Antigonish Community Transit Society (ACT), a not-for-profit service, has been providing essential transportation options to residents of both the town and county – particularly those who may otherwise face barriers to mobility due to a lack of reliable transportation.
With a growing fleet of vehicles, ACT offers both a fixed-route service and a book-a-ride option to accommodate a range of transportation needs across the region.
“We are proud with our progress,” ACT Executive Director Richie Connors told The Reporter, noting that the organization continues to grow and expand its reach within the community.
Connors highlighted a “substantial increase” in ridership across both services.
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, ACT recorded over 27,000 rides – 16,288 through the book-a-ride system and 10,627 via fixed-route service. These figures show remarkable growth when compared to 2021, which saw 4,717 and 2,471 rides respectively.
ACT’s book-a-ride program currently operates seven vehicles, with an eighth soon to be added. Connors described the service as “effective,” particularly in providing transportation to county residents traveling into town for essential needs, such as medical appointments. The program has also facilitated trips to Sydney, Truro, and Halifax for health-related and other purposes, as well as helping individuals commute “to and from work” within Antigonish.
The fixed-route service operates on an hourly basis using two buses – with a third bus in the process of being licensed by the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, formerly the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
This offering serves a wide range of needs, including providing connection for those experiencing “social isolation,” Connors said.
He emphasized that ACT remains a vital service for individuals with mobility challenges, particularly those who use wheelchairs. The transit vehicles are fully equipped to meet accessibility needs.
“We are digging into [it], as it currently exists,” Connors said, referring to an operational review currently underway to assess and improve the service. A rebranding and re-launch of the fixed-route system is anticipated in 2026.
One area of focus for future expansion is Beech Hill Road, located on the town’s outskirts. With recent developments in the area – including the opening of an Access Nova Scotia location and the forthcoming Antigonish Collaborative Care Clinic – Connors said ACT is exploring new stops to better accommodate these destinations.
“We want to expand to accommodate that,” he explained.
ACT is also working to increase awareness and ridership among St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) students, though Connors acknowledged that limited awareness within the student population remains a challenge.
Support from the broader community has been instrumental in ACT’s success. In addition to ridership and donor contributions, Connors acknowledged the ongoing financial and operational support from the Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish.
“It is very important – we are very grateful,” he said.
ACT’s fixed-route buses operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The book-a-ride service runs Monday to Friday, and those wishing to schedule a ride are encouraged to contact the dispatcher at 902-867-0411 – ideally before 1 p.m. the day prior to the requested trip.
“We are always looking for the best ways to serve our communities moving forward,” Connors added.